Amnesty International Salisbury Group

Monthly Meeting on Thursday 14th November 7.30 pm at 4, Victoria Road.

ACTION

1 Chairman’s welcomePresent: Peter, Lesley, Michael S, Tony, Andrew, Fiona, Emily.

2 ApologiesEddie, Michael Pope, Dick, Jane and Ursula,

3 Minutes of the October meetingAccepted as a true record

4 Matters arising● The Cathedral service on the 17th October, Tony and Peter's 2 meetings with Tom

Clammer produced a well-organized event, the service sheets had the correct details for the Salisbury group on back.

● Fiona gave the non-religious reading to the 80 people attending of which 45 went on to sign the petition so fulfilling one of the aims for this year to get a higher rate of signators.

● However we were not as successful with pre or post publicity, the email to Tom Clammer was unanswered and consequently there was no notice in the cathedral about the event. It was agreed that if it were decided to repeat the event next year then we would take control of publicity from the cathedral.

● In a follow up meeting with Tony, Sarah Rickett and Sarah Mullan discussed feedback; it was considered that next year, with suitable advance publicity the attendance could be at least doubled.

● Peter took several photos despite the poor light levels and the best one along with Nicholas Mercers notes on his sermon was published in our latest newsletter. It was also used on the website/blog.

● It was noted that using the candle drip shields to highlight the names and situations of the individual prisoners of conscience could be further enhanced next year.

● It was proposed that next years service could be moved into the beginning of November so that the names for the annual Write for Rights campaign, published on the 1st November, could be used on the drip shields with all the accompanying literature, supplied by AIUK, distributed to everyone attending the service.

● The question of arranging a conference in conjunction with the Cathedral was also raised.

● In the next meeting with Sarah R and Sarah M, Tony will explore; A) The idea of holding an exhibition week before and after the AI Choral Vespers Service possibly in the St. Lawrence chapel. We would supply material. B) AI Salisbury group being involved in the Magna Carta celebration of 2015 -

perhaps in the procession.

TM

ALL

5 Treasurer’s reportThe Change of Person forms are with Nationwide and are being processed. Costs for the printing of the October newsletter have been paid.

6 Update on CampaignsDEATH PENALTY SUMMARYGeneral● Reggie Clemons - 12 cards were signed at our meeting on World Against Death

Penalty Day and subsequently sent; 45 people signed his petition at the Cathedral Service, and 29 students at the Citizen Day at Bishops.

● Jonathan has offered to arrange a DP Vigil at St Thomas’s after Christmas - everyone happy to proceed.

● Gill Cleverley has responded to our request for a Workshop on DP Campaign Planning – suggested date 13th Feb 2014, possibly at the White Hart within a normal meeting.

● A video of the AI 2012 report ‘Abolish the Death Penalty’ can be viewed on their website www.amnesty.org.uk

UK● 30th Oct 2013 - Gregory Campbell MP called for the use of the death penalty in

the UK and internationally – condemned by AI

Bangladesh● The sentence of hanging was passed on an MP within the leading opposition

party, Salahuddinn Quader Chowdhury, for war crimes during the 1971 War of Independence with Pakistan. AI has called for all 5 war crime death sentences imposed this year to be overturned.

● 5th Nov – 152 people involved in the 2009 mutiny were given death sentences..

Iran● 17th Oct 2013 – following his hanging, a condemned man (found guilty of drug

smuggling) was found alive in the morgue. Initial reports were of plans to execute him again. Following an international outcry, including from AI, the decision was made he would not face execution again.

Brunei● Plans have been announced to implement the Sharia penal code next year – this

will mean flogging and stoning for crimes such as adultery.

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Indonesia● 30th Oct 2013 – a Constitutional Court ruling upheld the death penalty for drug

offences. AIUK expressed their disappointment.

Belarus● 24th Oct - the Supreme Court overturned the death sentence for Alyaksandr

Haryunou. AI have called for a moratorium – Belarus is the last country in Europe to carry out executions

Japan● Okumishi Masaru – 87; on death row since 1969 – was denied his 7th request for

retrial. He is kept mainly in solitary confinement, and is likely to die in prison

USA● Tennessee have scheduled their 1st execution for 5 yrs – Billy R Irick to be

executed on 15th Jan 2014 – using a new single drug method (phenobarbital) as the EU boycott is affecting the sale of sedatives to US prisons.

● Georgia - Warren Hill (whose execution was halted previously because of issues with the supply of drugs for lethal injection) - the Supreme Court has refused to examine his case, despite the fact that he has been assessed as having an IQ of 70

INDIVIDUAL AT RISKAndrew and Fiona are looking for a new case and will report back with their recommendations.

NORTH KOREAPolitical Prison Camps● On 7 October 2013 the researcher, Rajiv Narayan chaired an event on North Korea

at AI UK. It was a discussion on what North Korean groups and the international community are doing on human rights issues related to North Korea. Over 35 people attended the session including groups from Japan, US and UK plus survivors giving first hand accounts.

● On 8 October 2013 Kenny arranged a screening of the documentary film, "Yodok Story" followed by a Q&A (held at in AIUK headquarters). 200 people attended the event.

The UN Commission of Inquiry● The C of I into the human rights situation in North Korea has travelled to the UK

and the US and held a series of public hearings. Many of the 65 witnesses heard so far described the type of sub human treatment in the political prison camps that was exhibited in the film Yodok Stories, shown this summer in the arts centre. The C of I chairman, Michael Kirby (a retired Australian judge) commented on how extremely powerful the evidence so far had been.

● UN Investigators are consulting international lawyers over the possibility of summoning senior regime figures to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

● China could also face condemnation for its longstanding policy of repatriating

North Koreans, despite evidence that they faced mistreatment and abuse on their return.

● The Commission is due to report it's findings in March 2014

Forcible repatriation ● AI are monitoring the case of the Kim family, some of whom have been forcibly

repatriated from September 2013.Upcoming action

Amnesty International is preparing further satellite imagery and analysis of political prison camps in North Korea. This material will be released in November. The material will also be submitted to the UN Commission of Inquiry.

7 Citizenship Conference● The group recorded their thanks to Lesley, Jonathan, Andrew and Eddie for all

their efforts involved in the preparation and presentation at the conference. Andrew introduced the session with a background to the Amnesty International organization. Jonathan continued by posing the question, "What is a human right?" initiating a group discussion. Lesley concluded with an overview of what AI and our local group were doing and how people can get involved locally or at university.

● Alistair Endersby sent an email with thanks, commenting that the students thought the AI presentation was thought provoking and often their favourite session of the day.

● Lesley and Peter have proposed a project to continue the students involvement by inviting them to submit a 2000 word essay on a human rights related topic. 3 prizes of £60, £30 and £15 will be awarded for the 1st 2nd and 3rd place essays. Lesley and Peter have offered to put up prize money.

8 Film at Salisbury Arts Centre Everyone please book film tickets as over half have already been sold.Fiona has offered to collect Maryam Namazie the speaker from the station.Fiona suggested drawing up a petition for the evening involving Saudi human rights issues. A potential candidate was a lady called Wajeha al Huwaider who is accused of inciting a woman to defy her husband by helping an abused woman.The group will look at using both a paper petition and one line petition using a wifi link to an iPad. Karen can supply phone and iPad. Peter has offered to draw up fact sheet.Peter received an email from Sagied Sulaman questioning the connection of speaker with the film. Peter and Fiona have looked into the points raised and decided to contact Maryam so that she could respond to his comments. Peter has offered to reply to Sagied saying we are interested in his comments could he give more details of these views.

KB

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9 Publicity: letter to John Glen on Human RightsDick has suggested getting together a sub group to deal with replying to the letter from John Glen (this is his reply to the letter sent last month from our group). This

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group would include Andrew, Peter, Dick and anyone else who is interested. It was agreed that the group would wait until Dick returns.

10 Reports on Website and Newsletter The latest newsletter is now out.Peter is in the process of setting up Wordpress to improve on the current web site.

11 Monthly Action ● The two Greetings Card signing events are confirmed for the 10th and 14th of

December located in the Cheese Cross. Jonathan will bring all the cards and Fiona and Andrew will check up on information for the 3 chosen individuals selected from Write for Rights campaign.Fiona will contact AI to provide "send a message to Yorm cards". Tony will check details with Jonathan.Andrew will organize a Rota of volunteers via email and send out timetable.

● AI AGM will be held Herriott Watt University in Edinburgh.● This months AI Group News magazine has two references to Salisbury, p12 has a

photo and short write up on the North Korea campaign from the summer and p14 gives the southern regional conference date for next year. We will again host it in the Salvation Army Hall on the 1st March 2014.

JP, AH FD

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AH

12 Petition for Reggie Clemons (19th)The rota for volunteer cover on 19th is with Lesley. Tony will check with Jonathan about a table.

13 Write for Rights3 individuals from the 13 prisoners in the Write for Rights campaign will be chosen as the focus for the greetings cards stall.

14 Other forthcoming events● The Christmas Tree Festival: Fiona has created an innovative design for the

Amnesty “Candle for Freedom Tree” which will be taken to St. Thomas for the 2nd December. She will add more names to it and make each one bigger so it can be read easily. Please go along from the 2nd - 8th Dec.

● The 2 dates for greeting card signing stalls were agreed.● Carol singing, Jonathan to coordinate and will confirm arrangements on the 19th

Dec.● Regional conference date March 1st 2014

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JP

15 AOB● Barbara Hickman has contacted the group and suggested we could work more

closely with Sarum concern for Israel and Palestine. Andrew offered to contact

AH

her and without commitment suggest she provides 500 words for newsletter.● Fiona reported that Greenpeace are holding a demo 11 - 3pm this Saturday at the

Amesbury shell garage re Gazprom. It was suggested that people might attend for moral support.

● Karen suggested that it might be useful to keep a note in the minutes of the location of the banner, tabards etc.

● Lesley has lots of resources from the citizenship day: power points, DVDs etc. If anyone would like to use them contact Lesley.

● Emily suggested the fund raising idea of a pub night with live music/acts to promote a card signing session. The idea being that the pub wouldn't charge Amnesty as they would have increased drink sales and we approach a variety of acts with the agreement they give their time in support of the AI cause.

● Emily was asked to give a workshop in next meeting on setting up Facebook for the group and a twitter account. This will probably be the last chance, as Emily announced she would be moving to London in the New Year with work. She very kindly offered to continue to support us on the social media side, which was very gratefully accepted.

● Karen asked that if people had used a computer to prepare notes for the meeting, could they be emailed to her so they could be incorporated and or summarized into the minutes. Thanks to Lesley who already does this.

KB

16 Next meetingThe social media workshop will take the place of the next meeting on Thursday 12 th December and will be held at Tony's house at the usual time of 7.30.Vertical bannerTabards

Emily

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Group website: www.amnesty.org.uk/salisburyAIUK website: www.amnesty.org.uk

Photos from St. Thomas Church 3rd Dec 2013